A Lambton Shores man has been sentenced to 45 days in jail for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend.

Brent Donald Tidball, 34, of Lambton Shores pled guilty in Sarnia court to assaulting his pregnant girlfriend along with breaking her cell phone and was sentenced to 45 days in jail.

The 45-day sentence was a joint submission by defence and Crown lawyers, but it could have been longer due to Tidball’s criminal record, said Justice Mark Hornblower.

Tidball had been drinking when an argument started with his girlfriend when he accused her of being involved with another man.

He had grabbed her wrists in the bedroom when she tried to leave and broke her cell phone that he had taken from her.

“He feels a great deal of remorse,” said defence lawyer Terry Brandon describing how Tidball sought counselling following the assault. The counselling was taken into account in accepting the joint submission for the jail time that includes three days of pre-sentence custody and will be served on weekends, said Hornblower.

It will be followed by a year’s probation. Tidball can have no contact with the woman without her written revokable consent. He must also pay $141 in restitution for the cell phone.

Meanwhile, two women learned in Sarnia court resorting to violence due to relationship frustrations is not the solution.

A 41-year-old Petrolia woman pled guilty to assaulting her estranged husband’s girlfriend and was placed on a year’s probation.

A 30-year-old Sarnia woman pled guilty to an assault when she hit her husband during an argument about the air conditioner and was placed on a year’s probation.

Neither woman had a criminal record and both were given discharges that will leave them without records if they successfully complete the year’s probation.

The 30-year-old Sarnia woman started flailing around after her husband unplugged the air-conditiioner at 4 a.m. During the flailing he was hit.

The husband called police when the argument erupted again later in the day.

There are better ways to deal with frustration, said Hornblower.

During her probation she must take counselling but Hornblower acknowledged that could take time because there are fewer spaces for women compared to men in the counselling programs.

Her husband told the court he absolutely wants to be with his wife so a non-association order was not imposed.

The 41-year-old Petrolia woman pulled the hair of her former husband's girlfriend but denied throwing rocks at her.

She had gone to the home a number of times seeking resolution of child support payments.

The court was told she receives no support payments.

There is a right way and a wrong way to deal with such things and this was the wrong way, said Hornblower.